HIS Excellency Sheikh Jassim Bin Abdulrahman Bin Mohammed Al-Thani is not only the Qatar’s Ambassador to Thailand, but he is also a member of his country’s Royal Family. The BigChilli was, therefore, doubly honoured when he graciously accepted our invitation for an exclusive interview.

The conversation took place at the Qatari Embassy offices occupying the entire 14th floor of Capital Tower, All Seasons Place in central Bangkok. The interior décor of the embassy can be described as lavishly elegant, which will come as no surprise to anyone who has visited or seen photos of Doha, the country’s shining, ultra-modern capital on the Persian Gulf, or flown with Qatar Airways. At the outset of the interview the Ambassador said the State of Qatar is making a big effort to bring about progress, even a renaissance, in the country. Because of its large natural gas deposits, Qatar is a very wealthy nation and is using that wealth to fund innovative and sustainable development projects in many areas.

Blossoming relationsThe Ambassador’s last position before coming to Thailand was Assistant Director with the Ministry’s Directorate of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), from August 2015 to August 2016.

He visited Thailand for the first time in 2007 on a 10-day vacation to Phuket and Bangkok. Like so many others from the Middle East, the Ambassador enjoys Thailand’s amazing beaches and other natural attractions.

“Qatar and Thailand enjoy an excellent relationship in all spheres. Everything is perfect; we have no problems whatsoever. I was appointed by the Emir of Qatar in August 2016 to come here and work to strengthen the relationship even further based on recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Bin Jassim Al-Thani, Minister of Foreign Affairs. My primary objectives are to increase bilateral trade, continue to provide care and assistance for our citizens here and preserve the excellent reputation of Qatar in Thailand.

“Diplomatic relations between Qatar and Thailand were formally established on August 7, 1980, and they have blossomed with the exchange of our resident embassies. Thailand inaugurated its embassy in Doha in December 2002, and Qatar established its embassy in Bangkok in October 2004. We have about 40 people working at the embassy. Four are Qatari diplomats, including myself, and the rest are locals.

“Thailand and Qatar support each other in regional and international legal frameworks and regularly exchange high-level visits. There have been a number of agreements or MoUs signed between our two countries. Qatar is an important trade partner for Thailand and the main destination for our energy exports.

“In 2016 the trade volume both ways amounted to US$2.7 billion, according to Thai statistics. The trade balance favours Qatar; Thai exports to Qatar amounted to US$278 million while Qatari exports to Thailand reached US$2.4billion.

“Qatar’s major imports from Thailand include cars and spare parts, air-conditioners, jewellery, furniture, electronics goods, canned food products, machinery and metals, while Thailand primarily imports petroleum products, especially liquefied natural gas (LNG). There is a long-term agreement between Qatargas and PTT Public Company. The agreement states that Qatargas will export two million tonnes of LNG to Thailand annually for 20 years, starting from January 2015. Every two weeks a ship carrying LNG arrives at a Thai port from Doha. Qatargas has company offices here. We also export various chemical products to Thailand.

“Qatar Airways is well known here, and the airline’s expansion has coincided with the rising status of Thailand as a tourist destination. The airline has five flights a day to Bangkok. We fly twice a day to Phuket, and we have four flights a week to Krabi. From December 12 onward Qatar Airways will launch a new route from Doha to Chiang Mai and U-Tapao,” said the Ambassador, adding that the trip from Doha to Bangkok takes about six hours.

Qatar Airways’ fleet includes Airbus 380 and Boeing 777 aircraft used for long distance flights. Doha’s Hamad International Airport, which opened in 2014, was rated second in the Top Ten International Airports in the Travel and Leisure World’s Best Awards 2017 readers’ survey.”

Sustainability stressedThe Ambassador said his government is committed topromoting sustainable development. “The statementoutlining Qatar’s approach, presented at the AsianCooperation Dialogue (ACD) held in Bangkok on August21 this year, highlights the many important pillars toachieve sustainable development promoted under theleadership of His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad BinKhalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar.

“Qatar seeks to support and diversify the economyby strengthening national institutions that contribute toadvances in development, and also by opening doors forall our citizens, as well as foreign investors, to participate.We believe that peace, security and human rights areprerequisites for national and international prosperity.

“The Qatar National Vision 2030 policy stipulates theprinciple of strategic planning for economic, social andenvironmental progress in order to improve the quality oflife and well-being of everyone living within our borders.Europe. For example, we own around 30 percent of thetall buildings in Canary Wharf, a major financial centre inLondon. We bought Harrods, the luxury department store,as well. We are also buying real estate in Italy and France.”

“Around 30,000 Qataris visit Thailand each year, butthe number of Thai tourists in Qatar is low. We expectmore for the World Cup. We want to show Thai and othertourists from around the world that we have a lot to offer.We have a long-standing cultural heritage with numerousfascinating attractions such as the Islamic Art Museum,which contains the largest collection of Islamic Art in theworld; Souq Waqif, regarded as a social and civic hub inthe heart of Doha. The Corniche, a waterfront promenadeextending for several kilometres along Doha Bay; AspirePark, a huge and beautifully landscaped green area in theheart of Doha; and Katara cultural village.

“A few months ago Qatar announced a new rule thatallows citizens from 80 countries to obtain a one-monthvisa upon arrival at the airport.”

Thailand is a popular destination for Qataris who enjoyits tourist attractions and also those seeking medical care.“Our government has a Medical office to serve Qatariswho come here for medical treatment. The office will sendthem to an appropriate hospital.”

The Ambassador said that in addition to Thais comingto Doha for business purposes, approximately 4,000Thai citizens are residing in Qatar; around 2,500 of theseare skilled and semi-skilled workers in the constructionsector. The rest are working as Qatar Airways’ cabin crew,technicians and executives, and there are a handful ofentrepreneurs, housewives and students.

Al JazeeraRecently, some well-publicised and highly controversialallegations were made by the government of Saudi Arabiaagainst the state of Qatar. Some countries also want Qatarto close Al Jazeera, the state-funded broadcaster.

“There’s no way we will close Al Jazeera down. Al Jazeerawas established in 1996 and from that time, the world hashad a way to get good information about the Middle East.Before that no one knew what was really going on in theregion. Al Jazeera is now the number one regional mediaorganisation, with an office in London which opened threeyears ago. Al Jazeera broadcasts in Arabic and English.”​

Love for Thailandhe Ambassador had a lot of praise for Thailand:“I love Thailand, I love this place, and I love theThai people. They are very kind. The food isgreat as well. My whole family is here, my wifeand five children, four sons and one daughter,they all enjoy life in Thailand.

“This country is very safe. You can walk anywhere withno problem. I have no bodyguards. Everything is good andquiet in this country. My family and I feel safe and at homehere. Sometimes my daughter, who studies at a universityin Bangkok, comes to see me at the embassy when she hasa break, and we will have coffee. She really enjoys her lifehere, as does my wife. She has many friends in Bangkok,and she often gets invited to see them. She also stays busylooking after our five children.

“This is my first ambassadorial post. I have been herenow for over a year,” said the Ambassador, adding that histerm here would probably be three or four years.

“I am very busy every day a lot of meetings, receptionsand other activities. There is plenty of social life for adiplomat in Bangkok, which I like. It is better to go outthan to sit at home. I enjoy walking as well. In my freetime, I like to spend time with my family and to swim.

“I travel out of Bangkok often. I’ve visited with my familyPhuket, Krabi, Pattaya, Koh Samui, Hua Hin. They enjoythese trips very, very much, and even when I have time to goback to Qatar, my family will say, ‘no, we want to stay here.’ ”

​The Ambassador said that in general Muslims can feelat home in Thailand and Bangkok. “I meet members of theMuslim community in Bangkok at receptions or when wego out eat. The Thai government is also helping Muslimpeople a lot. You see a lot of mosques in Thailand. There isa mosque near my home in Sukhumvit Soi 49.”

The Ambassador is a sharp dresser, and when askedabout brands he likes he said: “I usually buy suits fromGiorgio Armani, Zeina and Belzaerelli this brand is thebest. I wear the Qatari national dress every Friday or ifI am meeting with Thai officials,” said the Ambassador,adding that it is well suited to the desert climate of Qatar.“The summers in Qatar are very hot in the day and night.Winters can be pretty cold, especially in the desert.”

​He remarked that as in Thailand, most cars on the roadare Japanese brands. “A lot of people drive Toyota LandCruisers or Lexus, and people with a lot of money mightprefer Rolls Royce or Lamborghini. You see many of thesecars in Qatar. We have very tough traffic laws. The topspeed in Qatar is 130km/h, and even if you are from theRoyal Family, you will be punished if break traffic laws. Noexceptions.”

UN speech by the Emir of QatarFollowing are excerpts from a speech made by Emir Sheikh Tamim of Qatar at the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 20, 2017.

Maintaining the regional and international peace and security is a priority in the State of Qatar’s foreign policy, whose principles and objectives are based on the United Nations’ charter and the rules of international legality.

​​​“At this time, I stand here while my country and my people are subjected to a continuing and unjust blockade imposed since June 5th by neighbouring countries. The blockade involves all aspects of life, including the intervention by these countries to rip off family ties. The blockade was imposed abruptly and without warning, prompting Qatar to consider it as a kind of treachery.

“It seems that those who planned and implemented it had envisaged that their move would cause a shocking and direct impact that will bring the State of Qatar to its knees and capitulate to a total tutelage imposed on us. And what is worse, the blockade planners found it necessary to rely on fabricated quotes attributed to me and posted on the website of Qatar News Agency after hacking it.

​“This illegal blockade was not confined to the economic aspect and the breach of the WTO Agreement, but it exceeded that to violate the human rights conventions by the arbitrary measures that have caused social, economic and religious harm to thousands of citizens and residents of the GCC countries.

​The blockading countries went beyond that to chase their own citizens by imposing penalties of imprisonment and fines on them for the mere expression of their sympathy with Qatar, even if that was on the social media, in a precedent never seen before in the world.

​“Terrorism and extremism are among the most serious challenges facing the world. Countering them require us all to carry out a concerted action against terrorist organisations and their extremist ideology in order to maintain security for humanity and stability for the world.”